Which is the best Paul Theroux to start with? I have long wanted to read some of his work, and thrilled by a new author (to me) with a big back catalogue. Am hovering over my amazon basket- any suggestions on where to start would be great.

The Catcher in the RyeThe early Philip Pullmans such as Ruby in the SmokeThe Josephine Tey books are all classics e.g. The Franchise Affair, Brat FarrarThe Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes short storiesDo you know, it's hard to think of cheerful classics!

She has read quite a lot of Gerald Durrell, some Pullman (His Dark Materials, and Ruby in the Smoke and possibly some others; enjoyed RitS most), not interested in Holmes strangely enough. I've found Daughter of Time by Tey, but I don't think she's started it.

Not heard of Railway Bazaar.

Catcher in the Rye, great idea and it's in a box somewhere! Also thought Catch 22 - also in a box somewhere! (There are at least 40 boxes which would be unpacked if we had shelves for them; then are my RIP brother's books, another 10 boxes; and my other brother will be coming to live with us soon and his large 2-bed flat is so full of books that you can't see the floor for piles of them as there is no more room on his shelves. My bedroom has 20 or so piles up against walls which are on average 30 high. It's a nightmare. We need another house to make into a library!)

Catch 22 would be a great idea. Not sure 'Catcher in the Rye' could really be classed as cheerful though! 'Bilgewater' Jane Gardam was one of my teenage favourites and Iain Banks 'The Crow Road' although these maybe aren't literary enough. Lian Hearne's quarter (across the nightingale floor etc) are a good read and following the asian theme 'Wild Swans' Jung Chang might work too.

Lamprey, I always found Catcher in the Rye very calming. Oddly safe. I think it's that image at the end of someone catching children so they don't come to harm (can't remember the details, obviously due for a re-read!).

Remus, er yes. And those little sojourns to Bath to take the waters, and those horribly cramped houses - old Vicarages are just sooooooo small, one can barely keep a minimal household.

Remus, I feel Bath has become rather louche since the Regent took an interest. All the ton now visit Harrogate. Bracing, doncha know?

Will look put for Frost in May (I have a feeling I have it in a box somewhere); have not come across Enchanted April. I have quite a lot of Angelou - very affirming. Again, in a box somewhere.

No I can't just hand over a box. There are books in them which may need to be removed first (dh had some awful junk); everything is higgledy-piggledy as the boxes got moved about a lot, books dragged (all our faves that we could find) and so got repacked with whatever was closest etc.

It's horrible, and I dream of houses with shelves floor to ceiling on every single wall.